State Rep. Dan Ugaste is rolling out a fresh Republican play in the Bears stadium saga, pitching a revived megaprojects-style tax framework aimed squarely at keeping the team from crossing the state line. The Geneva lawmaker says his version would broaden property tax relief for both homeowners and businesses and shift certain local tax referendums to the November general election. Ugaste told reporters he plans to file the legislation soon and hopes it can restart bipartisan talks while the Bears size up out-of-state options, including an Indiana site.
The earlier House-passed megaprojects plan, House Bill 910, would have allowed qualifying developers to negotiate payments in lieu of taxes, or PILOTs, with half of any such special payment earmarked for homeowner relief, as reported by WTTW. A Cook County Treasurer’s Office analysis warned that if a statewide fund were spread across every county homeowner, each household would see only a few dollars, while concentrating relief within a megaproject’s taxing districts could generate much larger rebates.
Ugaste, who voted against HB 910, says his draft would raise the investment threshold to $500 million, exclude residential development from qualifying projects, and keep PILOTs subject to local negotiation, as outlined by Capitol News Illinois. He is also proposing that property tax levy and bond renewal referendums move to the November general election so turnout better reflects the broader community, and he notes that he has not yet formally filed the bill but intends to do so soon.
What It Would Mean for Homeowners and Schools
Supporters argue a PILOT framework could give the Bears the tax certainty they are demanding while still routing money back to residents, but they say the details of how that money is distributed are everything. A report from the Cook County Treasurer’s Office models a hypothetical 20 million dollar PILOT and finds it would translate to roughly 1.29 dollars per homeowner if spread across all of Cook County, compared with about 280 dollars per homeowner if rebates were limited to Arlington Heights residents, underscoring how local choices drive the size of any benefit.
Where the Bears Stand
The Bears’ board voted this month to move forward with a stadium development project in Hammond, Indiana, and the team says it is proceeding with plans there while specific site details remain under review, according to the Associated Press. Indiana lawmakers have already signed off on a financing framework to help back a stadium in Northwest Indiana, a step that has ramped up pressure on Illinois leaders to put a competitive offer on the table.
Politics and the Road Ahead
Gov. JB Pritzker has said he would be “happy” to call a special session if lawmakers can unite behind a Bears package, but getting there will mean ironing out divisions within the Democratic majority and securing bipartisan support, according to the Chicago Sun-Times. Even with Republican proposals in circulation, insiders acknowledge the path is steep because any GOP-led measure will still need Democratic votes to clear both chambers and survive legal and budget scrutiny.
Ugaste is pitching his plan as a starting point that he expects to tweak after hearing from the team, and he has said he deliberately avoided meeting with Bears representatives while drafting the language, per WTTW. With lawmakers not slated to return to Springfield until the fall veto session, the window for a deal is tight unless leaders opt for a special session, and the next several weeks will show whether Illinois can put together enough of a package to convince the Bears to stay.
